After a summer of change, the Gillingham Ladies finally kick started their pre-season against Deal Town on the 3G pitch at Canterbury University. Newly appointed manager, Martin Andrews, had a strong side to select from with just 2 omissions, Jaq Fiddyment (injured) & Kylie Overton (Holiday) being the only absentees.

The conditions for the game were not the greatest as temperatures soared to the 30's making it one of the hottest days of the year. Sensibly, both the managers from agreed that player safety was paramount and opted to have roll-on-roll off subs.

As the match got under way Gillingham took the game to their oponents. The first attack saw Anna Broad going narrowly close, however just a few minutes afterwards, Gillingham were rewarded a free kick midway in the Deal half. The experienced Leanne Stevens expertly dispatched it into the top right hand corner of the goal giving the Deal Keeper (who ironically left the Gillingham Centre of Excellence only last season) no chance.

Gillingham pushed on from this start and generally took control of the game, the perfect pitch conditions made for some neat play, and the wide players where having the better of the full backs. It was only a matter of time before the 2nd came, this time from Zara Phillips who scored from a header after Deal failed to clear a corner. That made the half time score 0-2 to Gillingham.

Despite several changes Gillingham carried on where they left off and Kirsty Goodall took advantage of a hesitant goalkeeper, chipping it over her, to tap into an empty net. Gillingham had several other chances, and had they had their shooting boots on, could have doubled the score. However Vicky Ashton-Jones (AJ) who is a centre back but played the 2nd half up front, due to her incredible pace, made it 0-4 with a clinical finish.

As the game came to a close Deal Town grabbed a consolation goal. Gills keeper Alison Smith came out of her area to clear the ball, only for it to go to Deal's midfielder who calmly and expertly drove it into the unguarded net. However the Gills restored there four goal cushion when, with the last kick of the game, Anna Broad finished the game how she started. She finally got the goal she deserved for her hard work throughout the match as she scored from outside the area to give the final score 5-1 to Gillingham Ladies.

Final Score:-

Deal Town 1-5 Gillingham (Stevens, Phillips, Goodall, Ashton-Jones, Broad)

Gillingham Ladies squad from:-

A.Smith, W.Judd, B.Lyons, V.Ashton-Jones, N.Seath, T.Martin, L.Kay, L.Stevens, K.Bolden, T.Reynolds, Z.Phillips, K.Seath, G.Ridge, K.Goodall, A.Broad